Brian Key is a friend of mine who lives in Kansas City and serves on staff at Redeemer Fellowship Church in Kansas City. I have spoken about Brian and his wife Kelly and the life and death of their daughter Olivia. Olivia passed away last year at the age of 3.
It was an honor to watch the Keys walk and wrestle with suffering. I asked Brian to write something about how God used the life of Olivia to give and reinforce hope. The following is Brian's response"
All
of us live life hoping in something to give us joy, satisfaction,
identity. Suffering reveals the trustworthiness of the object of your
faith. Does it lead you to despair or hope? Throughout our time with
Livi, all of the things we hoped in were stripped away. We wanted a
diagnosis. We got none. We wanted medicine and therapy to work. They had
some effect but didn't heal Olivia. None of the countless procedures,
consultations or anything delivered what we hoped for - our daughter's
wholeness.
Over time, we realized that we were hoping in the wrong thing. Our hopes were refined in the process; the dross was burned away and that which was trustworthy remained. Our faith was strengthened in the living God who is the sovereign God in the heavens who does what he pleases (Psalm 115), but he is also the loving Father who works all things together for our good (Romans 8). He promises that one day everything sad will become untrue and has made that pledge to us in the blood of his Son and sealed our hope through his resurrection. Over time, we quit hoping in things being made right now, but looked forward to the day Rev 21 will be realized, the day when all things - even Livi's broken body - will be made new. In the crucible of suffering hope was forged.
Don't get me wrong: the valley was still dark, but it was bearable because the Good Shepherd of our soul was with us in it, comforting us, giving us a hope that doesn't disappoint. Be honest, can you say that about anything else you are hoping in? Can that thing ultimately deliver what it promises? Does it have the strength to help you endure, or does it ultimately lead you to despair?
Thanks for reading.
Over time, we realized that we were hoping in the wrong thing. Our hopes were refined in the process; the dross was burned away and that which was trustworthy remained. Our faith was strengthened in the living God who is the sovereign God in the heavens who does what he pleases (Psalm 115), but he is also the loving Father who works all things together for our good (Romans 8). He promises that one day everything sad will become untrue and has made that pledge to us in the blood of his Son and sealed our hope through his resurrection. Over time, we quit hoping in things being made right now, but looked forward to the day Rev 21 will be realized, the day when all things - even Livi's broken body - will be made new. In the crucible of suffering hope was forged.
Don't get me wrong: the valley was still dark, but it was bearable because the Good Shepherd of our soul was with us in it, comforting us, giving us a hope that doesn't disappoint. Be honest, can you say that about anything else you are hoping in? Can that thing ultimately deliver what it promises? Does it have the strength to help you endure, or does it ultimately lead you to despair?
Thanks for reading.
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